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Red Traffic Lights

The newly released book “Exhilarating Torah Insights on Recreation and Vacation” is now available (as a paperback, hardcover and digitized version) for purchase and delivery on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DF4ZHPKJ or by sending a WhatsApp to +972 54 849 5217. Alternatively, you can call 054 849 5217 (Israel) or 917 732 2371 (United States) or send an email to [email protected].

This insightful and thought-provoking book delves into these questions and many more, offering profound insights. With over 50 meticulously crafted essays, it masterfully conveys the Torah’s perspective on recreation and vacation. As an indispensable guide, this work will enable readers to attain a deeper understanding of these important topics.

It makes a great gift for parents, siblings, friends, relatives, neighbors, business associates, acquaintances and learning partners. Purchase it at https://amzn.to/3eyh5xP.

Some of the questions discussed in this book are the following.

What role does recreation play in our service of Hashem?

What does the Torah teach us about music?

What lessons can we glean from specific types of recreation, such as sports?

Is there a mitzvah to take a vacation?

What does the Torah say about comedy and humor?

To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions (on how to spread the insights of this publication further, make it more appealing or anything else), to sponsor this publication which has been in six continents and more than forty countries, or if you know anyone who is interested in receiving these insights weekly, please contact the author, Rabbi Yehoshua Alt, at [email protected]. Thank you.

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לעילוי נשמת שמואל אביגדור בן יצחק מאיר

These Torah articles can also be viewed in French and Hebrew at https://www.dirshu.co.il/category/הורדות-עלונים.

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Please send your feedback to [email protected].

Rabbi Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander ztz”l for close to five years. He received Semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg ztz”l. Rabbi Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications and is the author of the books, Fascinating Insights and Incredible Insights. His writings inspire people across the spectrum of Jewish observance to live with the vibrancy and beauty of Torah. He lives with his wife and family in a suburb of Yerushalayim where he studies, writes, and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.

Please feel free to print some copies of this publication and distribute them in your local shul for the public, thereby having a hand in spreading Torah.

Red Traffic Lights

We know that the color red represents Din. We see this with Esav, who was red.[1] In fact, he was a שופך דמים, a murderer,[2] another aspect of[3] Din.[4] What is the name of his nation?אדום , which means red.

 

R' Moshe Shapiro pointed out that throughout the world the color red means “stop” and red is midas ha’din, which expresses brakes and limits.[5] This explains why signs that tell us to stop are red, including the red light on a traffic light and the stop sign.[6]

 

A comical story is told of the Satmar Rebbe who was traveling in a car when the red traffic lights were something new. Upon his driver stopping at the red light, the Satmar Rebbe inquired why he did so since he wasn’t aware of such a thing. After the driver explained it to him, the Satmar Rebbe said this explains ויאמר אליו אדום לא תעבר בי פן בחרב אצא לקראתך,[7] when it is a red light, don’t pass because it may be precarious.



[1] Breishis 25:25.

[2] Breishis 25:25, Rashi. Esav descends from Yitzchak, the one who possesses the trait of Din. Also, he refused the Torah because of לא תרצח, Din. We also see his connection to death (Din) from his Malach who is also the מלאך המות.

[3] We are taught that Esav married two women from חתי (Breishis 26:34). חתי is related to the term חת, fear (see Yirmiya 30:10), which is rooted in Din.

[4] The color of blood is red. This is alluded to in the fact that the root of the word אדום, red, is דם, blood.

[5] He also pointed out that on the other hand, green is the accepted color for “go” and is the color of midas ha’rachamim, expressing continuation and future.

[6] Also, blood is red and people get squeamish from blood.

[7] Bamidbar 20:18.

 

Writer of the weekly Fascinating Insights Torah sheet in Englishעברית ,אידיש and français
image.gifimage.pngAuthor of Nine Books including the recently released "Exhilarating Torah Insights on Recreation and Vacation"

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